The deadline for entries is 11 December, 2006 and, after a judging process involving 12 tourism experts from around the world and on-site verification visits for finalists, the winners will be announced at a special ceremony during the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit held in Lisbon from 10 to 12 May, 2007.

Benefits of winning include a free trip to the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit and considerable international media attention and promotion.

To find out more and download an application form please visit www.tourismfortomorrow.com or email info@tourismfortomorrow.com.

Previous Winners of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

The 2006 Tourism for Tomorrow Award winners are:

Destination Award: Sierra Gorda, Mexico www.sierragordamexico.org

Conservation Award: Campi Ya Kanzi, Kenya www.maasai.com

Investor in People Award: Hotel Punta Islita, Costa Rica www.hotelpuntaislita.com

Global Tourism Business Award: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Canada and Global www.fairmont.com

Hospitality and tourism management (HTM) students at the University of Guelph are being served up a new $2,500 annual scholarship named for Bill Allen, former Ontario deputy minister of tourism and recreation. The inaugural scholarship will be awarded in March 2007.

Allen, a two-time graduate of U of G's Ontario Agricultural College, served in the provincial public sector for more than 30 years. His posts included the Ministry of Citizenship, where he was responsible for seniors' and women's issues and culture and recreation; the Ministry of Natural Resources; and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He was also a board member of the Canadian Tourism Commission, Toronto Tourism, the Ontario Place Corporation and U of G’s HTM program.

In addition, Allen, who currently sits on the advisory board of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, is a 2002 Queen's Jubilee Medal winner and a 2005 recipient of the Northern Ontario Tourism Outfitters Association's President's Award. He was named a fellow of the Ontario Hostelry Association in June 2006.

The scholarship was initiated by William Duron, executive producer of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and was supported by many of the businesses and organizations that worked with Allen during his tenure. Duron wanted to honour Allen following the announcement of his retirement in April.

"Bill has been a hero to the tourism industry in Ontario, especially during the SARS crisis, when he displayed strong leadership and support for the industry," said Duron, who chaired a committee of senior hospitality and tourism executives that secured donations to fund the award from industry partners, tourism professionals and through a reception held on campus in Allen's honour in late June.

"He believes very strongly in the educational success of U of G students, and there's no question that donors felt really good about investing their money in them," said Duron, adding that the HTM program at Guelph is highly regarded and respected in the tourism industry.

The award will go a long way in making university more affordable to deserving students and will help increase the pool of qualified hospitality and tourism professionals, said Marion Joppe, director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

"I'm overwhelmed by the support this has received," said Allen. "When you retire, you hope you can leave some sort of legacy, and in my estimation, a scholarship is one of the best things you can leave because it's contributing to the success of the next generation."

TORONTO - Provincial park visitors in Ontario pay a higher percentage of overall park costs than park visitors in any comparable Canadian province or U.S. state, an internal report of the Ministry of Natural Resources reveals.

The report, obtained by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union through Freedom of Information, shows that Ontario provincial parks recover 79 per cent of their costs from park visitors. In Alberta, that number is 12 per cent.

"In Alberta, they roll out the welcome mat for visitors to their provincial parks," said OPSEU president Leah Casselman. "In Ontario, we just take their wallets and cut back on park services.

"Our provincial parks need an immediate cash injection to reduce user fees and restore service levels and environmental stewardship in our parks." The MNR report states that "Ontario Parks spends less per campsite, less per visit and less per hectare than any of the other jurisdictions (and) recovers a greater portion of operating expenditures through revenues than any of the other jurisdictions."

The MNR cut the equivalent of 226 summer jobs for seasonal and regular student workers at Ontario provincial parks this year. Park visitors have complained loudly about the cuts, which have affected park services from garbage pickup to nature education to patrols by park wardens.

"In relative terms Ontario Parks net expenditures are low," the MNR report states. "Low net spending per hectare likely indicates that needed protection and stewardship work is not being funded; low spending per visitor may indicate that customer service and infrastructure maintenance are being short changed."

"It is a sad state of affairs indeed when a government cannot provide the most basic services that its citizens expect to receive," said Casselman. "The McGuinty government has lost its way."

Cost recovery rates for parks in the eight comparable jurisdictions used in the MNR report are as follows: Ontario (79 per cent); Saskatchewan (62); Manitoba (55); Michigan (45); Texas (32); New York (29); California (24); Alberta (12).

An estimated 571,000 Canadians travelled to overseas countries in June, up 1.9% from May. This was the seventh consecutive monthly increase. (Unless otherwise specified, monthly data are seasonally adjusted.)

Meanwhile, US residents made fewer than 1.2 million same-day car trips to Canada in June, down 0.4% compared to May. During the first half of this year, Americans made only 6.6 million same-day car trips to Canada (unadjusted data) — the lowest first-half figure on record.

These record setting numbers reflect recent movements. It was the fifth consecutive month of record high travel for Canadians to overseas countries and the second consecutive record low for same-day car travel from the United States.

Overall, travel from the United States to Canada fell 1.1% in June compared to May. Although the number of overnight trips by car and by other modes both edged up, overnight plane travel dropped 2.8%. As a result, total overnight travel declined 0.6% from May.

Same-day and overnight travel from Canada to the United States combined fell 2.8% in June, as residents took trips fewer than 3.3 million to the United States. Only 1.9 million same-day car trips were made to the United States, down 3.8% from May.

Canadian residents also took 1.4% fewer overnight trips to the United States with declines recorded in all major modes of travel.

Among Canada's top 12 overseas markets, only Taiwan and Japan posted increases. The number of visitors from the Netherlands declined 7.5%, the largest monthly decrease among these markets.

Overall, travel to Canada from overseas countries declined 1.3% in June as 377,000 came to visit the country during the month.

The Canadian dollar was worth 89.8 US cents on average in June, down 0.4% compared to May. The loonie, however, gained against the Japanese yen, the euro and British pound sterling.

Occupancy rates are anticipated to remain relatively stable this quarter, as 44% of respondents expected no change. Nearly an equal number of hoteliers anticipated the occupancy rate to rise (29%) as those who anticipated it to decrease (27%). The expected number of room nights booked followed a similar pattern.

Although 55% of hotel operators anticipated the number of corporate travellers to stay the same, 27% of them anticipated a decrease while 17% anticipated an increase.

The average daily room rates were anticipated to continue to rise by 40% of respondents, while 18% anticipated a decline.

A growing number of Canadian hotel operators are reporting business impediments such as labour shortages, general economic conditions and the lack of attractions or complementary facilities in the vicinity.

In fact, the labour shortage continues to remain a major business impediment in the traveller accommodation industry. About one third of hoteliers are experiencing a shortage of unskilled labour (34%), as well as a shortage in skilled labour (31%). This has been a recurring theme over the last four quarters. Indications from the Survey of Employment Earnings and Hours (SEPH) are that the industry was successful in hiring more people, but seemingly not enough to meet the demand. According to SEPH, the number employed in the traveller accommodation industry rose 6.8% from May 2005 to May 2006, while the total number employed in all industries rose only 2.0%.

Concerns about general economic conditions were cited by 27% of the operators — up from 19% in the third quarter of 2005. As well, the lack of attractions or complementary facilities in the vicinity was recorded by 22% of respondents — up from 16% reported during the same period last year.

The survey of around 1,500 businesses, mostly hotels, was conducted in July to assess their outlook about key indicators compared to the same period last year. Some of these key indicators include bookings, occupancy rates, room rates and hours worked by employees.

Note: The Business Conditions Survey for the Traveller Accommodation Industries is made possible with the support of industry partners, the Canadian Tourism Commission and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism. Results are based on survey questionnaires sent to traveller accommodation providers and are weighted by their operating revenues. Consequently, the larger businesses have a correspondingly larger impact on the results than smaller businesses.

VANCOUVER and NEW YORK - Intrawest Corporation ("Intrawest" or "the company") and Fortress Investment Group LLC ("Fortress") announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which funds managed by affiliates of Fortress will acquire all of Intrawest's outstanding common shares at a price of $35.00 per share payable in cash. The total value of the transaction, including the existing debt of Intrawest, is approximately $2.8 billion.

Fortress is a global investment and asset management firm with
approximately $23 billion in equity capital under management.

This all-cash transaction for 100 per cent of the company's shares
represents a 20 per cent premium over Intrawest's closing price on
February 27, 2006, the last trading day before the company announced its
intention to review its strategic options, and a 32 per cent premium over the
closing price prior to the announcement of the offer.

"Following a thorough review of all strategic options to maximize value
for Intrawest's shareholders, which included the appointment of a Special
Committee of Directors to oversee the process, the Board of Directors of
Intrawest has determined that the transaction with Fortress is the best
alternative for the shareholders and is in the best interests of the company,"
said Gordon MacDougall, lead director of Intrawest Corporation. "The Intrawest Board has unanimously recommended that the shareholders of Intrawest approve the transaction."

In deciding to recommend the transaction to the Intrawest shareholders,
the Board of Directors considered a number of factors and received an opinion
from the company's financial advisors, Goldman, Sachs & Co. to the effect, andsubject to the assumptions and conditions set forth in such opinion, that the consideration to be received for the common shares of the company is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Intrawest shareholders. Capital West Partners provided additional advice to the company, the Board of Directors and the Special Committee.

"I am pleased with the result of our review of strategic alternatives
that was announced on February 28, 2006," said Joe Houssian, chairman and
chief executive officer of Intrawest Corporation. "Over the past five months,
we have thoroughly analyzed the financial and strategic options for the
company and believe that the value inherent in this transaction is in the best
interests of all of our shareholders. Fortress was attracted by our assets,
people, business strategies and loyal customer base and is able to support
Intrawest becoming a global leader across all of our businesses."

"Fortress has a disciplined strategy of acquiring asset-based businesses
with high quality platforms and Intrawest is truly unique in this regard,"
said Wesley R. Edens, principal and chairman of the management committee of Fortress Investment Group LLC. "We have a great opportunity to continue
Intrawest's evolution into a leading global leisure player and look forward to
working with its management team, employees and partners."

The transaction will be carried out by way of a statutory plan of
arrangement and must be approved by the applicable court and by 66 2/3 per
cent of the votes cast by holders of Intrawest shares. Closing is also subject
to customary conditions of closing, including regulatory approvals. The
closing of the transaction is not subject to any financing condition. The
proposed transaction is expected to close in October 2006, shortly after
receipt of shareholder and court approvals.

TORONTO, - Growth of the $62.7 billion Canadian travel industry is on track and many sectors are expected to exceed 2005 figures, despite issues ranging from government changes, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a higher Canadian Dollar and increased energy costs. Executives from Best Western International, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) recently convened in Toronto to discuss these and other topics important to the business and leisure travel market.

From the continuing shift in global travel patterns to new trends affecting vacationers across North America, industry leaders shared their views on a wide range of issues that could impact the travel industry for months to come

BEST WESTERN'S BEST YEAR ON RECORD
Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing for Best Western, said
2006 is on track to be another record year for the world's largest hotel
chain. With North American revenues up 11 percent over 2005, and the average daily rate (ADR) in Canada up nearly $10 to $92.25 FYTD ending in June, growth across the country continues at a steady pace. Fifteen new hotels, or 1,043 rooms, were added in 2005, with another 15 to be flagged in 2006.

"Growth continues to be hot in Quebec, Manitoba and Atlantic Canada --
specifically Halifax -- as well as Alberta, where we've opened nine hotels in
the past 18 months alone," said Dowling. "This expansion mirrors our business travel base throughout Canada, where 55 percent of our guests come from the corporate side. By contrast, business travellers make up 44 percent of our business in the U.S. market."

Best Western currently operates more than 180 hotels, or 16,747 rooms,
across the country. The portfolio includes conference centres that offer
meeting space/banquet facilities, as well as properties that offer amenities
such as award-winning dining or water slides, and guest rooms that offer
fireplaces, Jacuzzis(R) and spectacular views.

CANADIAN TRAVEL INDUSTRY "MOSTLY SUNNY"

Tony Pollard, HAC president, said this year's Hotel Association of
Canada/Fleishman Hillard 2006 Annual Travel Intentions Survey revealed that
the travel industry is on a healthy upward pace for several reasons. Among
them:
* The percentage of Canadians traveling in 2006 increased by 10 points
over 2005, from 57 percent to 67 percent
* Room rates are up 2 percent nationally to an average of $118 per
night; RevPAR is up 5.6 percent
* Air Canada's load factor hovering at 84 percent versus 79 percent
last year; WestJet up to 77 percent from 71 percent in 2005
* Consumer confidence is up as is the GDP at 3.1 percent while
unemployment is at its lowest point since the early 1970s. This all
bodes well for the lodging industry

"The clouds we're seeing on our travel horizon are due to a slowdown in
inbound travel from the U.S., the WHTI issue and the continued high cost of
fuel," said Pollard, "but with just 4 percent of survey respondents planning
to curtail their travel plans because of the price of a tank of gas, we're
still expecting to be back to pre-2000 profitability levels this year."

FACTORS AFFECTING TOURISM MARKET
Canadian markets are adjusting their three-year marketing plans to account
for problems that may occur as a result of WHTI, the U.S.-led program that
will require all travellers to present a passport or other appropriate secure
document(s) when entering or re-entering the United States by air or sea after
December 31, 2006. With WHTI's implementation date edging closer, TIAC and
the HAC are moving forward to mitigate its effects on the tourism industry
across both sides of the border. TIAC President and CEO Randy Williams said
that although the effects of WHTI will not be fully realized until it is
implemented for land-border crossings on January 1, 2008, its $2.5 billion
impact is being felt now and will continue to do so throughout 2007.
A recent U.S. study also sought to measure the impact of the U.S.
traveller on the Canadian tourism industry. While a majority of Americans
(71 percent) are still taking leisure trips, nearly one-third (29 percent) are
planning to take less holidays than last year. The reasons, however, are not
a direct result of factors such as the rising cost of fuel.
"The top three reasons why Americans aren't taking a leisure trip have to
do with their ability to balance their budget, balance their work issues and
manage the chores building up at home -- the cost of gas is one of the
smallest pieces of financial pie," said Williams. "Travel is a discretionary
spend, so the more disposable income consumers have, the more likely they are
to travel."

CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS RESULT IN NEW TRENDS FOR 2007
The Gen-X market is on the cusp of driving the travel market, taking that
moniker away from Baby Boomers, said Pollard. This group is taking more
atypical, offbeat vacations away from city centres than Boomers have
traditionally sought. As a result, the industry is changing to respond to
these needs.
The ability to understand and customize the marketing message to a
particular consumer group is paramount to the industry's success, said
Dowling. Best Western has developed innovative programs specifically designed
to reach individual target audiences. Today, women and children are the key
decision makers when it comes to family travel, which is directly tied to the
company's marketing strategy. Best Western's current summer promotion that
partners the hotel chain with YTV and the hit television show The Fairly
OddParents provides a vehicle for reaching this highly sought-after
demographic.
All the panelists agree that many undiscovered and affordable treasures
are ripe for discovery across the country. From heliskiing and survival
camping in the North to mushroom picking in Montebello, Quebec, travellers to
Canada (both locals and foreigners) will find much more to do besides skiing,
camping and hockey tournaments.
And with 2,400 locations throughout North America for Canadians to
explore, Best Western in particular is working hard to make sure everyone
knows it has a hotel to fit many tastes and many budgets across the continent.
"While business travellers appreciate our free high-speed Internet access,
the Gen-X and Gen-Y crowds value our locations near almost every outdoor
adventure activity thinkable," said Dowling. "Those participating in the
'grandtripping' phenomenon -- grandparents traveling with their grandkids --
appreciate our locations near national parks, as well the properties that have
onsite breakfast and swimming pools."

Expected to generate $25.8 million in spending in Toronto area; U.S. convention business growing, defying trend in leisure market

TORONTO - Tourism Toronto and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) announced today that Toronto has won bids to host three new U.S. meeting groups. Barbershop Harmony Society, Federal Express Corporation, and Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology will host their meetings in Toronto. The three conventions combined will bring an expected 25,000 delegates to Toronto and generate direct visitor spending of upwards of $25.8 million, including more than 76,000 room nights for Greater Toronto Area hotels.

"Competition in the U.S. market is fierce and Canadian destinations face some very real challenges from the rising dollar to changing passport requirements. Through a combination of direct sales and an emphasis on industry-leading service, we are helping meeting planners look past these factors and realize that their Toronto meeting will be remarkable," said Bruce MacMillan, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto.

"We are delighted to see our team approach to selling city-wide business continues to demonstrate success on all levels. It is a win-win situation for all partners involved when we can secure groups such as these," said Barry Smith, President and CEO, Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Barbershop Harmony Society will hit the right notes in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre for their 2013 meeting for 12,000-delegates. Federal Express Corporation delivers its annual meeting at MTCC in June 2007 to 3,500 delegates. Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology will hold its International Coatings Expo at MTCC in September 2007 for 7,000 delegates.

Well-positioned for first international meetings

Recent wins for Toronto point to a growing trend as more U.S. groups opt to hold their first international meetings or conventions in Toronto. Earlier this year, the association announced wins for other U.S.-based organizations: <<

- American Society of Association Executives & The Center for Association Leadership (5,000 delegates in 2009)
- American Podiatric Medical Association (3,500 in 2009)
- American Animal Hospital Association (2,500 in 2011) >>

So far in 2006, Tourism Toronto is 21 per cent ahead of last year's pace in total room night bookings for future meetings. In 2005, the association booked six future city-wide conventions for U.S. organizations and at the halfway point of 2006 has already matched that total with six new bookings.

The three new wins come in the midst of an already eventful convention year for the Greater Toronto Area. This summer, Toronto and the MTCC host several major meetings including the high-profile International AIDS Conference on August 13-18, with an estimated attendance of over 25,000 delegates; SUBWAY(R) restaurants held its first-ever annual conference outside the U.S. in Toronto earlier this week; the International Association of Firefighters will hold its annual meeting on August 28 - September 1.

Building business through service

Recognizing the competitive meeting and conventions landscape, Tourism Toronto has stepped up its efforts to attract U.S. meetings to Toronto, and now has seven full-time sales staff in Chicago and Washington, DC. The association has launched industry-leading services like the Toronto Attendance Building Toolkit, Digital Toronto planner and a Star Treatment Program for clients that starts 18 months before the meeting takes place.

In the recently released Flaspohler survey of more than 400 influential U.S. meeting planners, Tourism Toronto was rated the number one convention and visitors bureau in Canada and fourth in North America out of 45 cities. The study also showed that meeting and convention planners site Toronto's well-suited hotels and easy accessibility around the city as key factors when considering the city for a meeting or convention.

"The big difference is that we're on more radar screens now and the entire Toronto region is serious contender for U.S. business," said MacMillan.

Monthly traveller accommodation services price indexes for the second quarter of 2006 are now available. These indexes, which measure price movements of accommodation services, reflect changes in room rates, excluding all indirect taxes, for overnight or short stays, with no meals or other services provided.

The Traveller Accommodation Services Price Index is a monthly series measuring the price change for short-term accommodation services. Data are collected for leisure and business clients and are used to produce price indexes covering the leisure, business, government, and foreign sectors.

Geography=Ontario

Client group	2006
	January	February	March	April	May	June
Total, all client groups	107.0	109.0	108.7	111.3	124.7	123.3
Leisure clients	105.7	107.6	106.6	108.1	132.1	126.1
Business clients	108.2	110.3	110.7	114.0	118.8	121.3
Government clients	109.5	111.8	111.9	115.5	120.8	123.1
Foreign clients	106.0	107.7	107.1	109.6	125.6	123.0

Source: Statistics Canada


The Traveller Accommodation Services Price Index (TASPI) is a monthly series measuring the price change for short-term accommodation services. These services comprise of the provision rooms for an overnight or short stay without any meals or other services provided. The index reflects changes in room rates excluding all indirect taxes and covers hotel and motel lodging services.



Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory. Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

The data is collected as part of the Consumer Price Index program, where regional interviewers obtain the necessary information from respondents through visits or by phone. Interviewers visit most respondents when they are first selected into the survey sample. The purpose of the visit is to select two rooms deemed to be representative of the typical rooms rented during the month. In fact, these two rooms are meant to best represent a double-occupancy room for leisure clients, and a single-occupancy room for business clients. After the initial visit, room rate information is collected from each respondent by telephone.

All attempts are made to keep the specifications (i.e. type of rates and conditions) constant, so that only changes in prices are tracked.The interviewers request information regarding the reasons for price changes and details pertaining to non-standard items included in the current price of the room (e.g., meals) that would not have been covered in the price quoted for the previous month. This information is used to adjust room rates so that they always reflect prices for the same services over time.

The TASPI provides a useful indicator of the economic activity in the traveller accommodation industry, and the tourism sector in general. The series can also be used as a measure of one important cost component of business travel. In addition, the TASPI is used by the Canadian System of National Accounts for the estimation of the real value of gross output of this service industry through deflation.

Data are collected for leisure and business clients and are used to produce price indexes covering the leisure, business, government, and foreign sectors.

Subjects

Accommodation service industry

Price indexes

Prices and price indexes

Chess movies will play all day in Council Chambers.

Chess information booths will be set up in Civic Square.

At 2 p.m., one of Canada's highest ranked masters, Robert Hamilton, will challenge the chess playing public, as he plays up to 30 players at the same time.

A bughouse (an interesting variation of chess) tournament will start at 4 p.m.

At 7 p.m., the Society for Creative Anachronisms will stage a live chess match in medieval costume.

The first annual Kitchener Chess tournament is currently taking place in downtown Kitchener, with the Canadian Open Chess Tournament, the Canadian Youth Chess Championship and the Canadian Junior Championships all taking place from July 10 to July 23.

The Youth and Junior Championships are being held concurrently at the Walper Terrace Hotel from Monday, July 10 to Thursday, July 13. The Canadian Open Chess Tournament, where leading Grandmasters of chess from around the world will compete, will take place from Saturday, July 15 to Sunday, July 23. Spectators can watch the matches on digital chess boards and electronic boards in various downtown locations. A live commentator will be located at Kitchener City Hall for the games.

For more information, locations and times for these events please visit www.chessfest.ca.

MONTREAL - With the strong Canadian dollar no doubt a deciding factor, several thousand of CAA-Quebec's 850,000 members will be heading for the U.S. East Coast and Virginia in the coming days - a full 14% more than last year during the same period.

"Even though Quebec is still very popular and the Atlantic Provinces remain a frequently visited destination, our travel advisors are receiving many questions and requests for tourism documentation for the United States," noted Sophie Gagnon, Director, Public and Government Relations, CAA-Quebec. The most common concerns expressed at the counter, on the phone or in e-mails to the organization include:(*)

<< - Do I need a passport? No, but proof of citizenship may be required.

- Should I always have hospital and medical insurance coverage? Yes, it is an essential precaution.

- Is the price of gas higher in the U.S.? Not generally. For example, on July 7, 2006, gas cost $0.87 per litre on the East Coast of the U.S. once all conversions are taken into account.

- How long does it take to receive a personalized itinerary and documentation from CAA-Quebec? The delivery delay for orders picked up at a CAA-Quebec Service Centre is four working days (10 days by mail).

- Do I need an International Driving Permit? No, but it could be useful for communication purposes in the event that you are stopped by the police.

- I haven't been to the United States in several years. Has it become more complicated to go through customs since September 11, 2001? Not necessarily. Even less so if you are prepared. >>

CAA-Quebec distributed close to 76,000 tourism documents this year and prepared more than 43,500 TripTik(R) personalized itineraries. Known for its Emergency Road Service offered to members throughout North America, CAA-Quebec provides a wide range of automotive, travel and residential services and privileges.

A leading expert in “tourism security” who facilitated a conference in Aruba following the disappearance of a U.S. high school student will visit the University of Guelph starting July 10.

During a meeting with faculty and students from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), Peter E. Tarlow will discuss plans for a conference in Guelph next year on security risk management.

“Tourism and travel are highly volatile industries, impacted by politics, world events, health and economics,” said Prof. Marion Joppe, HTM’s director. “While many of these circumstances are beyond our control, there are things that industry leaders can do to prepare for such challenges and to lessen the negative effects. That will be the focus of next year’s conference.”

Tarlow is an author and expert on the impact of crime and terrorism on the tourism industry, event risk management and economic development. He was in Aruba in June as co-ordinator of the First Caribbean Tourism Security Conference held one year after Natalee Holloway, an Alabama high school student, disappeared during a graduation trip.

Holloway’s disappearance was another reminder of how high-profile crimes, terrorist acts such as 9/11 and the anthrax episodes, and health concerns such as SARS and avian flu may wreak havoc on tourism, said Joppe. “The industry must face this reality.”

Other tourism-related discussions during Tarlow’s visit are expected to focus on taxation, fuel costs, security and safety issues, wireless communications, and poor travel conditions.

Tarlow has a PhD in sociology from Texas A&M University. He also holds degrees in history, in Spanish and Hebrew literatures, and in psychotherapy. He is a contributing author of Tourism, Crime and International Security Issues, the first major book on tourism security, and co-editor of War, Terrorism and Tourism.

• Investors and visitors strengthen Acapulco’s position as the favorite destination in Mexico

Acapulco is the Mexican tourist destination that has secured the largest amount of investments during this presidential term, topped at 2.625 billion U.S. dollars, and surpassing the amount invested in Cancún by 156 million U.S. dollars. These figures were obtained from a study spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR), which is headed by Rodolfo Elizondo Torres. The document highlights the fact that Acapulco is one of the principal tourist destinations in Mexico that concentrates the largest number of private investments.

The head of the aforementioned government entity stated that Mexico will have obtained record investments for more than 12 billion U.S. dollars during President Vicente Fox’ term, which ends in November of this year.

Information provided by investor analyses indicates that private investments in the Mexican tourist sector amounted to 11.608 million U.S. dollars for the 2001 through May 2006 period; this figure surpassed the current government’s expectations for this Presidential term, as early as last month.

SECTUR explained that 81.08 per cent of the aforementioned investments are of Mexican origin, while the remaining percentage was derived primarily from Spanish (40.5 per cent) and U.S. (44.7 per cent) capital.

These results reflect the level of confidence national and foreign investors have in Mexico and the dynamics that are unique to the tourist destinations. The Ministry of Tourism stated that 53.6 per cent of the investments were destined to building and/or remodeling tourist complexes as well as mega and real estate developments, while 39.2 per cent of the capital has been invested in different hotel category constructions.

SECTUR indicated that investments on projects this year include 709.88 million U.S. dollars on hotel developments; 90.43 million U.S. dollars on tourist transportation equipment; and 90.02 million U.S. dollars on golf courses, marinas and thematic parks, among other complementary projects.

In this manner, the world gathers in Acapulco and around its new developments to participate in the endless list of international events the city celebrates throughout the course of the year.

Forthcoming events in the Port of Acapulco include:

• The Acapulco 2006 International Golf Tournament, featuring Lorena Ochoa (July)

• Piel de Estrellas (Star Skin) events and TV shows filmed in Acapulco (July)

• Gold and Silver International Expo (August)

• Mexican Party’s brought to you from Acapulco (September)

• The Acapulco Tourist Fair (October)

• The Air Show (November)

• The 2006 Acapulco Fair (December)